Royal News Dec. 19, 2013

There Was a Whole Lot of Royal News This Week

Royal buzz reached a fever pitch this week, with exciting news about another royal baby, engagement rumors, and major milestones. Prince Harry marked a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, and his girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, linked up with Princess Beatrice for a royal wedding. On Wednesday, Prince William and Kate Middleton kicked off the holidays with little Georgie, while a voicemail-hacking case brought William's old messages for Kate into the press. Catch up on all that, plus details of Monaco's new royal baby, with this week's royal roundup.

Following a series of weather delays and difficulties, Prince Harry finally reached the South Pole last Friday as part of Team Commonwealth. He and his beard were happy to touch the South Pole at last, and he told reporters, "I'm so chuffed, and I'm so privileged to be here with all these guys and girls. What an amazing accomplishment. I think we'll be having a few whiskies tonight, and then everyone's looking forward to getting home."

While Prince Harry was busy celebrating his South Pole arrival, his girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, stepped out wearing a fabric flower crown for Jake Warren and Zoe Stewart's London wedding on Saturday. Jake, a longtime friend of the royal family, grew up with Prince William and Prince Harry as one of Princess Diana's godchildren. His wedding also brought out Princess Beatrice, who attended the event sporting standout headwear of her own.

Grace Kelly's granddaughter Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco welcomed a baby boy named Raphael on Tuesday. News of her pregnancy broke over the Summer, and the new royal baby is Charlotte's first child with her boyfriend, Gad Elmaleh, a French comedian.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge headed over to Grandma's house — aka Buckingham Palace — for a Christmas lunch with little Prince George in tow. Queen Elizabeth II hosted the event on Wednesday, and the new parents were spotted leaving the palace after the event, with Kate waving from the passenger seat in a red dress.

Rumors swirled that Kate Middleton's sister, Pippa Middleton, was engaged to her boyfriend, Nico Jackson, and the buzz quickly picked up steam. The gossip kicked off with reports that Nico had proposed while the couple was in India earlier this month, but it eventually came out that Pippa is not engaged.

Adele joined the elite group of celebrities who have met the royals on Thursday, all smiles while participating in an Investiture ceremony with Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. The talented Brit was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for her achievements in music.

Unfortunately, Prince William and Kate were victims of the News of the World voicemail hacking, and some of Prince William's voicemails are being presented as evidence in the case. In them, he's heard using a sweet nickname for Kate — "babykins" — and checking in after a gym date.